The Accreditation for Growth protocol is about creating a vision of a preferred future and then putting the systems into place to realize those dreams. [This is accomplished by] first building a consensus out of individual perceptions and thoughts about the school and, second, developing common hopes and dreams of what the school should be in the future.
Why is accreditation important?
Accreditation encourages improvement:
nhow we will assure continuous improvement nexamines the entire school nestablishes priorities nrequires a five-year plan
Accreditation provides a means for public accountability:
nvalidates the integrity of the program nassures the community that the school’s purposes are appropriate and are being accomplished njustifies the faith and resources placed in the school
Accreditation fosters stakeholders involvement and commitment:
nprovides grass-roots, broad-based involvement noffers a mechanism for constituent groups to play a role in the school’s future
Accreditation builds positive public relations:
nprovides opportunities to emphasize the positive and show how strong and effective the school is nfosters closer school and community collaboration
Strategic Planning Through Accreditation for Growth
Focus
na plan is developed in addition to meeting standards non outputs non growth
Stakeholder Involvement
nbroad cross-section who define, develop and implement the vision for growth nbalanced so that the attention is on the student
Structure
nsingle structure of stakeholders who develop and maintain site plan and accreditation activities
Review
nafter approval of the plan, annual updates non-site visit every five years na mid-point, one-day onsite review by a member of the original validation team
Drive
nbased on future expectations and desired results nbased on a school’s vision for itself nvalidates internal vision and actual results
Why is accreditation important?
n how we will assure continuous improvement
n examines the entire school
n establishes priorities
n requires a five-year plan
n validates the integrity of the program
n assures the community that the school’s purposes are appropriate and are being accomplished
n justifies the faith and resources placed in the school
n provides grass-roots, broad-based involvement
n offers a mechanism for constituent groups to play a role in the school’s future
n provides opportunities to emphasize the positive and show how strong and effective the school is
n fosters closer school and community collaboration
Strategic Planning Through Accreditation for Growth
Focus
n a plan is developed in addition to meeting standards
n on outputs
n on growth
Stakeholder Involvement
n broad cross-section who define, develop and implement the vision for growth
n balanced so that the attention is on the student
Structure
n single structure of stakeholders who develop and maintain site plan and accreditation activities
Review
n after approval of the plan, annual updates
n on-site visit every five years
n a mid-point, one-day onsite review by a member of the original validation team
Drive
n based on future expectations and desired results
n based on a school’s vision for itself
n validates internal vision and actual results
Common Steps in Strategic Planning Process
Clarifying a Mission Statement
Developing Belief Statements
Internal / External Scanning
Identifying Critical Issues
Establishing Parameters and Mandates
Articulating a Vision
Identifying Goals and Objectives
Developing Action Plans